The lifeblood of any home business is paying customers. But before people become customers, they need to reveal themselves as someone who'd be interested in your products or service. When they do this, they become a lead. Generate leads for your home-based business.

1. Create lead capture forms. You can add lead capture to your website for people who visit but aren't ready to buy. Or you can create lead capture forms on paper and leave in public places with a box to collect the forms. Ask permission before leaving your materials. In both cases, you can offer a free item to entice them such as a consult or report. Lead capture forms request a name, email address, phone number and the best time to contact.

2. Engage your network. The best leads are those you get through your network. Cold leads know nothing about you, but leads you find through your network will know you or know people they trust who also know you. Join groups, online and off, that your target market belongs to. Participate in social networking. Provide helpful information and assistance, as opposed to just promoting your business, and leads will reveal themselves as they find they need your product or service.

3. Ask for referrals. When you get a referral, that lead is already in a position to trust you as you were recommended by a trusted contact.

4. Buy leads. Bought leads, in general, are not as responsive as leads you get through your own efforts --- lead capture, network or referrals --- but if you buy a good list, it can be a good source of business. Ask your network what lead companies they use to get quality referrals. Ask the company how the leads are generated. Ideally you want non-incentivized leads --- leads that signed up to get a free offer or enter a contest. Instead, you want leads that have specifically asked for information on products or services that you offer. The best leads will be verified, or called to verify their interest, but these are also the most expensive. Finally, make sure you can let the lead know how and where their name was gathered. People sometimes forget they filled out a form somewhere and will think you're a telemarketer.

About the Author

Leslie Truex has been telecommuting and freelancing since 1994. She wrote the "The Work-At-Home Success Bible" and is a career/business and writing instructor at Piedmont Virginia Community College. Truex has a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Willamette University and a Master of Social Work from California State University-Sacramento. She has been an Aerobics and Fitness Association of America certified fitness instructor since 2001.